It was time for a patio upgrade at Erika Ward’s house. It’s been a while since we saw her terrific family-friendly under deck patio makeover. Now the author of the design and decor blog BluLabel Bungalow is here to show us how a few simple container gardening ideas can be all you need to make even more of your outdoor space.

It’s what we’re calling a Patio Style Challenge Redux. But this time there’s no new patio furniture set. Instead, Erika works her outdoor decor magic with container gardening– including some large shrubs in lovely big planters, and smaller potted plants, too.

As you’ll see, her gardening efforts added a ton of charm and lovely, natural atmosphere to her patio.

We saw what remarkable work Lesley Graham did in her patio makeover from a while back, so we wanted to see what sort of front porch makeover ideas she’d come up with. Her talent for decor and design shines through once again. In this Patio Style Challenge Redux, she shows us how simple it is to boost curb appeal just using plants.

She gives her porch and front yard the green treatment with plants of all kinds– hanging in baskets, in galvanized metal planters and planted along the front walkway. These are some of the simplest front porch ideas and curb appeal boosters you’ll ever see.

The vibrant colors of annuals and perennials can make your summer party extra special. Here are some party ideas featuring potted plants and flowers that you can use next time you entertain. Use the flowers for your summer tablescape. After the event transplant the plants outdoors for a pretty touch of color until the fall season, or place them on your front porch to enhance your home’s curb appeal.

Including vertical gardens into the patio decor is a trend we noticed, along with hanging gardens, in the recent additions to our Patio Style Challenge series. The design and DIY bloggers who took part in the Style Challenge came up with some very clever and attractive ways to incorporate vertical gardens into their outdoor spaces. Here’s a round up of these terrific outdoor decorating ideas.

Above, Atlanta-based blogger, Stephanie, of Glitter & Goat Cheese repurposed a large picture frame under her new pergola. Stephanie used the frame to hang five terra cotta pots, planted with bright vines and ferns. Plus, the ombre pots make it a two-trends-in-one project!

Interior designer and blogger, Kristin, of The Hunted Interior, took a more rounded approach (pun intended!) to her hanging garden design. Kristin used a chunky twine to hang these boxwood balls from tree branches above her gorgeous DIY floating deck. We’re loving the combination of bright green with black and white stripes!

Here’s a clever Mother’s Day idea: Give her a Home Depot gift card on a plant stake.

Include one with a plant from your local Home Depot store. A living plant can symbolize the nurturing and care that a mother provides, so it makes a particularly apt gift for Mother’s Day. Choose a flowering plant that blooms in your mother’s favorite color to make a big impact.

And add the Home Depot gift card to make your Mother’s Day gift do double duty. The plant serves as a personal expression of your gratitude, and because it lets her choose a gift for herself, the gift card ensures that your mother will find something specific to her interests.

No matter if your mother loves gardening, home improvement, interior design or landscaping, she will find something to love at The Home Depot. The Home Depot Gift Card has no monthly fees and never expires, so Mom can take her time to find exactly the right piece for her project.

This Mother’s Day, give the mother in your life a gift you know she’ll not only appreciate, but also use.

Fall planting season is your chance to renew the look of your home with new seasonal colors and textures. We asked Cassity of the Remodelaholic home improvement blog to show us how she planned her beautiful and very colorful fall garden. She has some great fall planting ideas, and some beautiful photos of her garden, too.

Whoever said you needed a backyard to grow your own garden was wrong! It’s no secret that most plants can adapt to growing in a container. Many vegetables, herbs, and even someshrubs or trees can actually thrive in buckets.

A 5-gallon bucket not only provides a low-cost solution, but also, accommodates healthy plants with big root systems or works as a great container for transporting. With so many advantages to benefit from, who doesn’t want to flex their green thumb and stay under budget? Check out all these unique ways people are using Homer Buckets for bucket gardening! Orange and green never looked better.